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Goodar ka La'l (A Jewel Among Rags) - the Annual of Urdu Studies

Goodar ka La'l (A Jewel Among Rags) - the Annual of Urdu Studies

Goodar ka La'l (A Jewel Among Rags) - the Annual of Urdu Studies

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426 • THE ANNUAL OF URDU STUDIESNawab Begum: The first daughter is like a son.Half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dried fruits and <strong>the</strong> money are distributed among <strong>the</strong>brides in <strong>the</strong> family. The rest is divided into two parts and is given toSuraiya Jabeen and Maqbul Begum. Maqbul Begum divides her shareinto two and sends one part to Najaf; she is also a sister after all. Thehandkerchiefs, except <strong>the</strong> one for <strong>the</strong> bridegroom, are also distributed.Suraiya Jabeen took <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> edging from hers and gave it to her mo<strong>the</strong>r.*Suraiya Jabeen makes several very fine, delicate copies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> picture andwraps <strong>the</strong>m in a silken handkerchief which she has embroidered herself.She has decided to send <strong>the</strong>m to Shakeel Ara. Then, God knows whatpasses through her mind, she removes <strong>the</strong> handkerchief and wraps <strong>the</strong>pictures in paper before she gives <strong>the</strong>m to an attendant to take to ShakeelAra. The pictures have been prepared expertly and beautifully. Everyonelikes <strong>the</strong>m. Roshan Ara, who is particularly interested in photography andwho takes very good photographs herself, has high praise for <strong>the</strong> pictures.Since Suraiya Jabeen has <strong>the</strong> plates she designs new pictures using only<strong>the</strong> top parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> originals. In one she puts Hasan Raza by himself, inano<strong>the</strong>r Ashiq Abbas is flanked by Hasan Raza and Yusuf Raza. One cansay without exaggeration that she produces at least a dozen pictures.When she is done, she takes a magnifying glass and peers closely at everyone’sfeatures. God knows what passes through her mind but she suddenlytears up all <strong>the</strong> pictures and throws <strong>the</strong>m into <strong>the</strong> coal brazier. Aslong as <strong>the</strong> papers are burning she stares at <strong>the</strong>m and when <strong>the</strong>y’rereduced to ashes she retires to bed.But on <strong>the</strong> following Sunday we find her engaged in <strong>the</strong> same activity.This time, however, she produces a new innovation. Taking <strong>the</strong> pictures<strong>of</strong> every famous man and woman she can find in her room, she putshis picture next to each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m separately. In ano<strong>the</strong>r photo she placeshis picture in <strong>the</strong> middle and creates an oval design by arranging <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rpictures around his like a halo around <strong>the</strong> sun. Then she arranges all <strong>the</strong>pictures on a table and after examining each one minutely with <strong>the</strong> magnifyingglass, she addresses herself thus:“Can I exhibit <strong>the</strong>se pictures in front <strong>of</strong> my bro<strong>the</strong>r? Or can I show<strong>the</strong>m to my sister-in-law or anyone else? Or can <strong>the</strong>y, like furniture, be apart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> décor <strong>of</strong> my room? Or …“No, not at all! So, should I hide <strong>the</strong>m by storing <strong>the</strong>m in my suitcase?The pictures <strong>of</strong> a strange man? Even though <strong>the</strong>se are <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> a

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